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J. GORHAB/I; Corner-Iron for Wagon-Bodies.

No'. 225,052. Patented Mar. 2, 1880.

IfiVENTOR u 11 ATTORNEY MPETERS, FHOWLITHOGRAKRER. WASMNGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACKSON GORHAM, OF ORAWFORDVILLE, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF OF HISRIGHT TO W. A. LEGWEN, OF SAME PLACE.

' CORNER-IRON FOR WAGON-BODIES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 225,052, dated March 2,1880.

' Application filed January 14,1880.

To all whom it may concern: V

Be it known that 1, JACKSON GORHAM, of Orawfordville, in the county ofTaliaferro and State of Georgia, have invented certain new 5 and usefulImprovements in Combined Oorner-Iron and Body-Strap for Wagon-Bodies;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompa nying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

1 My invention relates to an improvement in a combined corner-iron andbody-strap for wagon-bodies, the object being to provide a device whichmay be produced at a small first cost, and adapted to be readily appliedto the corners ofwagon-bodies and serve as a bodystrap to firmly unitethe sides, bottom, and

cross-piece beneath the wagonbody, and also to serve as a guide for thereception of the endgate.

To these ends my invention consists in a combined corner-iron andbody-strap for wagon-bodies embracing the several details inconstruction hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

O 3 a view, in perspective, of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a view, inperspective, of the rear portion of a wagon-body having my improvementconnected therewith.

A represents the side planks of a wagonbody, B the bottom, and O thecross-piece, extending transversely beneath the bottom near the end ofthe body, said cross-piece projecting outward at the opposite ends, asat a,

beyond the side planks.

D designates my improved corner-iron and body-strap, and is made in asingle piece, either of wrought, cast, or malleable iron, the sideflange, E, being of sufficient width to in- 4 5 sure a full firm bearing on the end of the side plank, to which it is secured by means ofscrews, bolts, or rivets b, inserted through holes 0 in the sideflange,E, and fastened to the side plank.

The lower end of the side flange is provided with anoutwardly-projecting lug-or bracket, F, which is secured to the upperside of the projeetin g end a of the cross piece C, said bracket or lugextending downwardly a suffi- In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis vof the insertion of the bottom B between the cross-piece O and sideplank, A.

Thus it will be observed that the portion of the device thus fardescribed constitutes a strong and reliable body-strap, firmly securin gtogether the side plank, bottom, and crosspiece.

The side flange is made of a width to project rearward of the side planka distance equal to the thickness of the end-gate, and on the rear edgeof the side flange is formed a lateral flange, G, of any desired width,which, in connection with the side flange, constitutes a completecorner-iron and forms a groove for the reception of the end of theend-gate, which latter may be readily removed from the corner-iron,whenever desired, by simply raising it vertically out of the groove.-

Both corners of the rearend of the wagonbody are provided with myimproved device, as hereinbefore described, which operate to impartstrength, stiffness, and durability to the wagon-body, allow theend-gate to be readilyinser'ted and removed, and aii'ord a fine completefinish to the vehicle.

The device may be produced at small cost and of little weight, so thatit will not materially'add to the cost or weight of the wagon body,while, on the other hand, it will very much enhance its strength,efficiency, and appearance.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the side plank, crosspiece extending transverselybeneath the bottom planks, and removable sliding end-board, ofthecombined corner-iron and body-strap, consisting of the flange E, securedto the side A, and projecting rearwardly beyond its end a distance equalto the thickness of the endboard, the flange G, located at right anglesto flange E, and forming a guide for the endboard, and bracket F,extending below the flanges. E G a distance equal to the thickness ofthe bottom board, and secured to the crosspiece O, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this5th day of January, 1880.

Witnesses: JACKSON GORHAM.

V. T. SMITH, O. A. BEAZLEY.

